[1] On 17 May 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) opened a 16+3⁄4 miles (27.0 km) branch from Mallow (on its Dublin to Cork main line) to Fermoy.

[2] The Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway (WD&LR) was incorporated in 1871 and fully opened its 43 miles (69 km) section on 12 August 1878; thus completing the continuous connection from Cork via Mallow to Waterford.

[5] As most patronage was for Cork on the boat train it was possible to re-route between Waterford and Mallow via Limerick Junction, a route that was of greater mileage but which only resulted in a maximum 10 minute increase in journey time.

The Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company gained authority to run a boat service from Fishguard, Wales to Rosslare Harbour in 1895.

The GS&WR were then able to run a service notably including a twelve-wheeled dining car from Rosslare routing via Waterford and Mallow at considerable convenience for travellers going to Cork City and further south-west.